In this topsy turvy National Conference season the title race took another twist at the weekend.

Champions Hunslet Club Parkside had played their way into favouritism with successive victories over West Hull.

But now Parkside have blotted their copybook with a 38-34 defeat at home to Thatto Heath.

Victories for Egremont, Wath Brow and West Hull have subsequently tightened-up the top four. Indeed Thatto Heath will consider themselves in contention in fifth.

Wath Brow continue to lead on differential, 60 points better off than West Hull.

Hornets were impressive 38-6 winners over Sandal after an electric start with two tries in the first three minutes through Greg Howland and Nathan Lucock, both converted by Fran King.

Although Siddal replied quickly with a converted try, that was as good as it got for the visitors.

By half-time Wath Brow had pulled away into a 26-6 lead with further tries by Karl Dixon, Luke Davison and Curtis Teare, one improved by King.

It stayed that way until the last quarter of the game when there were two more tries for Teare and Dixon, both converted by King.

West Hull stay level on points with the Cumbrians by beating Lock Lane 22-6, and have a game in hand.

Egremont stay fourth, probably with the Leaders’ Shield beyond them, but more intent on ensuring a play-off berth.

They scored their 10th win of the season at relegation threatened Thornhill Trojans – a 30-16 success which was fashioned by an outstanding second-half effort. They only led 6-4 at half-time through a try and conversion from player coach John-Paul Brocklebank.

By the hour that had stretched to 16-4 by tries from Matty Hutchins and Mike Ellwood, one converted by Brocklebank.

To their credit Thornhill fought back and briefly got on terms with two converted tries.

But Egremont regained the initiative to see out the game as comfortable winners with tries from Brocklebank and Marcus O’Brien. Both were converted by Brocklebank who ended the game by putting over a penalty.

Not for the first time this season Kells fell away in the second-half. Without five regulars, Kells were still in it against Underbank trailing 20-12 at the interval.

But they were swept away in the second-half as they conceded 20 more points and were unable to add to their own tally.

Underbank were 18-0 up in as many minutes before Kells hit back with tries from Martin O’Neill and Kieran Fleming, both converted by Grant Gainford.

The Huddersfield side scored four more tries in the second-half to leave Kells still stuck at the bottom an five points off safety.

In Division Three Hensingham gave promotion-chasing Batley Boys a scare before losing 30-20.

Hensingham’s tries came from Dan McGarry, Callum Tunstall, Craig McAvoy, Jack Kellett and Jay Rossi but couldn’t find a goal.

Batley Boys played the last seven minutes with 12 men after Charlie Sandell was sin-binned yet still found the points they needed.